Page 8 of The Darkest Knight

“The sun is setting,” Padriag screamed as loud sounds like thunder boomed overhead.

“It hasn’t set enough, unfortunately,” Niall called back. “Soon it will get worse.”

Liam waved an arm and held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. “Sentries should be appearing soon. Can you do something to let them know who we are?” he asked Padriag.

“Three humans traversing into the Icing should be a pretty big hint that we are idiots and therefore not a threat,” Padriag replied dryly. “I can make us invisible, but it won’t hold for long in these conditions.”

“Let us continue forward whilst keeping a steady pace,” Niall suggested.

It was hard to keep his teeth from chattering. The air felt as if he was dunked into an ice bath. Despite the cloak and warmth of the horse, he couldn’t stop the shivering. The horses seemed impervious to the cold, and he wondered if it had to do with the fact they were from that realm. The animals continued forward, their exhalations steaming in the air.

Glancing over to Liam and Padriag, he noted both men, like him, rode with their bodies flat against their horses. If they didn’t arrive to shelter soon, they would not survive much longer.

The winds shifted in direction, the sleet lessened, and finally, Niall could make out mountains to the west, which shielded the castle they were headed to. Thankfully, they’d been heading in the right directions, however, they were still at least an hour’s ride away.

Pulling his cloak tighter, he scanned the trees for the royal sentries. Movement caught his attention, and he concentrated on the area to ensure his eyes weren’t playing tricks.

“I think I see something moving,” Liam said, confirming that there was something or someone watching from the edge of the forest.

Moments later, a pack of enormous wolves seemed to materialize out of thin air. Their light gray and white fur perfectly blending with the background. The largest of the wolves, whose shoulders were as high as the top of the horse’s legs, neared and shook snow and ice from its huge head. The wolf’s light blue eyes met Niall’s.

They were the royal sentries, all shifters of some sort. This large wolf who stood before the rest of the pack had to be the shifter called Argo.

“Argo, we are here to ask for asylum from your rulers,” Padriag called out. “We had to flee from our home. It was attacked by Meliot’s forces.”

The wolf’s head slowly turned to Padriag, its eyes narrowing. Meliot and the royals of Atlandia were mortal enemies, although they’d lived in relative peace for the last decade or so, with each side ensuring they kept within the boundaries of their lands.

The wolf seemed to nod, then turned to face the pack. The wolves then formed two lines, leaving just enough room for the three men on horseback to continue in a single file.

Escorted by the wolves, the horses seemed to feel protected because they moved forward at a faster speed until galloping with the wolves easily keeping pace.

Niall wanted to cry in relief when the huge gray stone castle came into view, the magnificent structure a beacon of warmth and safety. He prayed the princesses within were amenable to allowing them to stay. The rulers were sisters, Rubiana and Esmeralda, identical except for the colors they wore. Both blonde, Rubiana always wore blood red, whilst her sister was usually draped in deep green.

Flanked by the wolf sentries, they traversed a bridge to arrive at massive gates upon which another group of wolves appeared, their yellow eyes seeming to glow in the darkness.

It was strange how these beings seemed impervious to the freezing temperatures of Atlandia.

Their guardians lifted their heads, seeming to communicate with the gate guardians because the massive structures began opening at once.

Passing into the courtyard was a shock to the senses. Huge bonfires warmed the surroundings, a welcome reprieve from the frigid temperatures outside. Niall looked up almost expecting to see some sort of dome that kept the heat in place. The only thing above was the cloudy sky with only one sun barely visible.

A large male approached, wearing a thick cloak over what Niall guessed was a naked body. He recognized Argo, who’s neutral expression was neither menacing, nor welcoming. The male waited for Niall, Liam and Padriag to dismount and then signaled to others, who took their horses away.

“They will be warm in the stables,” Argo stated in a deep voice. “Meliot has attacked your keep before. What was different this time that you seek refuge?”

Although Niall understood the male was in charge of the royal’s security, the questioning still angered him.

The more diplomatic Liam replied. “We are not from this realm and are limited in protecting ourselves from creatures here. Those who attacked today were much stronger and with powers we cannot defend against. Two of our group have broken away from this realm. We believe it angers Meliot.”

If Argo was surprised at the news that two of them had left, he gave no indication. Instead he nodded in understanding. “Follow me.”

They entered through an arched entryway and down a short corridor that was lit with sconces along the walls. The floor was padded with thick carpeting. They followed Argo into a space that was not unlike the largest room at their keep. Inside was a long table flanked by ten chairs on each side. Long buffet cabinets on both sides of a huge fireplace graced one wall, and on the opposite stood a dais of sorts with a shorter, intricately carved table in front of three, just as decorative chairs with tall backs.

A thin man dressed simply in a tunic and long leather breeches hurried into the room, followed by two women with a tray in each hand. The man motioned to the long table in the center of the room. “Welcome gentlemen; I hope your travels were not too perilous.”

Obviously a servant of sorts, the man seemed anxious to please. He moved around behind them as they, along with Argo, settled into chairs, then the women placed trays with bowls of warm water and cloths for them to wipe their faces and hands.

“A meal will be brought for you straight away,” the thin man stated, his eyes following their every move. Once everyone made use of the water and cloths, the thin man signaled for the women to remove the trays as he poured from a pitcher into their goblets.